Dragon issue #329 contents

[Megatron]

This months Novel Approach is about Marked for Death, not City of Towers.

/me goes back to pouting...

 

[BiggusGeekus]

A few weeks ago I pitched an article to dragon about various real world monstes from mythology. They didnt' take it. Now I know why, they had already bought the idea from someoen else!

Well, either that or they think I am teh suk.

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

So what can you tell us about "Return to the Far Realm?"

 

[BiggusGeekus]

So what can you tell us about "Return to the Far Realm?"

It's by Bruce Cordel and it looks to be weirdo-riffic!

 

[Alzrius]

Tell us about Demonomicon: Pazuzu !

It would be interesting to see what the format will be for the Demonomicon series of articles - headings etc...

Needless to say, this article rocked just as much, if not more, than I had been hoping. Here's what it had:

The first page is a full-color piece of artwork of what is apparently Pazuzu drinking on top of a rocky outcropping above some winged minions. There is a litany of a prayer to him in the upper left corner. The art here is good, but a bit too manga-style IMHO for something like this.

The article has a single opening paragraph before immediately launching into the good stuff: Stats for Pazuzu himself.

It's worth noting that though there are quite a few obvious similarities between Pazuzu's stats here and those published in the Book of Vile Darkness web enhancement, this one is a much more fleshed-out, and interesting, take on the Demon Prince. For one thing, this article's Pazuzu is much stronger, being a CR 29 compared to the web enhancement's CR 24. Some of his powers are fleshed out in greater detail (such as his breath weapon that releases insects being better described), and others are new (he can now use wish as a spell-like ability, and he has a planewalking supernatural ability that explains how he's so easily able to go to other planes), and a few things are gone (such as his being able to use meteor swarm).

In terms of vile material, there isn't much in the entire article, and that pace is set here. Pazuzu's only vile statistic is that he has the Dark Speech feat. All vile material in the article is given replacements if you don't own the BoVD.

Likewise, I noticed at least two errors (albeit small ones) right off. Pazuzu had neither the Extraplanar subtype, nor the Tanar'ri subtype. The latter seems like an oversight, as he still had all the special qualities of the Tanar'ri subtype.

More than two pages is given to Pazuzu's combat abilities and descriptions. In there is a sidebar on his minions, with the minions in question being an abyssal ant swarm (part of his breath weapon) and fiendish rocs (part of his summon avian ability).

After this is a (what I found to be) a pleasant surprise: information on Pazuzu's aspect (aspects are from the Miniature's Handbook, being basically very weak (CR 9 or so, like this one) avatars of unique Outsiders and deities).

Next is Pazuzu's Goals, where it details what it is that the Demon Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms wants. The answer is actually quite simple: he wants the Prime Material Plane, because corrupting goodness and innocence there is like a fine wine that he can't get enough of.

Pazuzu's Cult is a description of the gradual process that Pazuzu sets in motion when a mortal calls on him, describing how he works that into a full-blown cult cell, and his relationship with that cult as it grows.

Thralls of Pazuzu leads into a BoVD-style Thrall of Pazuzu PrC, and has an interesting sidebar on Pazuzu in the Real World, telling us what the mythology of Pazuzu is.

Pazuzu's minions details creatures likely to worship and work for his cults, and introduces a new tanar'ri: the anzu, very nasty CR 15 critters.

Finally, Pazuzu's Realm gives us a very nice description of the layer of the Abyss that Pazuzu has made his permanent abode (though he spends little time there), layer 503, Torremor. It talks about his personal lair there, what dwells there, what it's like, and even another structure where Pazuzu has supposedly imprisoned his consort when she turned against him. There is also a sidebar on The Blinding Claw, a major artifact that Pazuzu possesses.

 

[demiurge1138]

Needless to say, this article rocked just as much, if not more, than I had been hoping. Here's what it had...

OK, this rocks. So hard.

My faith in Dragon Magazine just tripled.

Demiurge out.

 

[BOZ]

alz, that is great news. i'll have to pick up a copy at the chicago gameday.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

Thanks Alz!

This sounds great. And Erik - The more details beyond the stat-blocks the better as far as I'm concerned, especially the minion/goals/plots/lairs stuff!

 

[Alzrius]

Next month:

Return to the Far Realm
Shapers of Shadow: Eberron's Umbragen
The Ecology of the Chul
A Novel Approach: Perdido Street Station

Just wanted to post an expanded version of this. Here's the blurb for next issue, Dragon #330, as it appears:

NEXT MONTH IN DRAGON
April #330
DRAGON gives you the best in gaming, presenting new official rules, original game content, great advice, and the perfect inspiration for your D&D game. In each issue, you'll also see what cool products are on the horizon, find out what other players are up to, and get an insider's look at the industry. Get more from your game: get DRAGON!

Return to the Far Realm
by Bruce Cordell
Explore a dimension out of sync with the known planes in this expansive treatment by Bruce Cordell. Learn about cenebrotic blots, where the Far Realm touches the Material Plane, and steep your characters in te lore of cenebrosis, the ability to manipulate weird Far Realm energies. A host of new spells and creatures rounds out a spectacular article that is absolutely not to be missed.

Shapers of Shadow: Eberron's Umbragen
by Keith Baker
Learn about the mysterious shadow elves of EBERRON from Keith Baker, the setting's creator! This exclusive drow sect dwells on the thrilling continent of Xen'drik, manipulating affairs with a special bond to a shadowy realm known as the Umbra. A new prestige class and a variety of feats give you everything you need to insert the Umbragen into your EBRRON campaign

Coming Home
by Matt Forbeck
Four heroes of EBERRON enter the Mournland to carve out a new home. A prelude to Marked for Death, the first novel in the upcoming Lost Mark Trilogy

Plus!
The Ecology of the Chuul, A Novel Approach: Perdido Street Station, and of course, Class Acts, Bazaar of the Bizarre, First Watch, Scale Mail, Spellcraft, Sage Advice, and comics.

Of course, we all know that Perdido Street Station was pushed back, but this still looks like a great issue!

 

[Alzrius]

I just wanted to point out that, although I'm not usually a fan of Class Acts, Tim Hitchcock's article for the Wizard was awesome! The rules for swarm familiars are both well done and innovative! My next bad guy who has a familiar will have a swarm of hellwasps instead!